RBR 


Nebuchadnezzar' 
Conf  Pam  #673 


NEBUCHADNEZZARS'S  FAULT  AND  FALL  r 

A  SERMON, 

PREACHED  AT 

GRACE  CHURCH,  CHARLESTON,  S.  C, 

ON  TffE 

17th  of  FEBRUARY,  1861. 

BY  THE 

Rev.  C.  C.  PI]SrCK:N'EY. 


CHARLESTON: 

PRINTED  BY   A.  J.  BURKE,  40  BROAD-STREET. 
186L 


CORRESPONDENCE. 


48  Broad  Strkkt,  March  27,  1861. 
3/y  Di^ar  Sir : — The  Vjirtry  and  Congregation  of  Grace  Church,  Charleston,  beliering  that 
in  this  time  of  our  political  necessity,  the  publication  of  your  Sermon,  delivered  in  that  Church 
on  the  17th  of  February  last,  would  add  to  the  general  good  by  giving  proper  direction  to  the 
thoughts  of  those  engaged  in  establishing  a  GoTcrninent  for  our  Confederacy,  asVell  as  in 
aiding  the  public  mind  to  receive  the  efforts  of  their  labors,  have  requested  me  to  ask  a  copy 
for  publication. 

Yours,  respectfully, 

WILLIAM  WHALEY,  Chairman. 

Kev.  C.   C.  PiNCKNET. 


March  27,  1861. 

My  Dear  Sir: — I  have  received  your  note  conveying  the  request  of  the  Vestry  (of  which 
you  had  previously  informed  me)  to  publish  the  Sermon  which  1  preached  in  Grace  Church, 
some  weeks  since. 

My  own  impression  is  that  the  public  are  tired  of  Sermons  on  our  national  affairs,  and, 
therefore,  I  did  not  act  upon  the  intimation  given  me.  But,  if  the  Vestry  and  Congregation 
desire  its  publication,  I  comply  at  once  with  their  wishes,  and  I  am  gratified  at  the  general 
endorsement  of  the  views  of  the  Sermon,  as  manifested  in  this  request. 

May  the  Qod  of  Nations  bless  this  and  every  effort  to  promote  truth  and  righteotisness  on 
the  earth. 

Very  truly,  yours, 

C.  C.  PINCKNEY,  Jr. 
W.  WHAunr,  Chairtnan  raby  Grace  Church. 


A  SERMON. 


The  King  spake  and  said  :  Is  not  this  great  Babylon,  that  I  have  built  for  the 
house  of  the  kingdom,  by  the  might  of  my  power,  and  for  ihe  glory  of  my  majesty  ? 
Daniel,  chap,  iv.,  30. 

The  most  potent  monarch  of  the  old  world,  before  the  rise 
of  the  Persian  dynasty,  was  Nebuchadnezzar.  Inheriting  the 
vast  empire  embraced  in  the  Babylonian  dominion,  he  en- 
larged and  strengthened  his  kingdom  by  foreign  conquests. 
The  fragments  of  the  Assyrian  empire  were  gradually  ab- 
sorbed by  the  Chaldean.  S3''ria,  Palestine,  Idumea,  Moab, 
were  subjugated,  and  many  of  their  inhabitants  transported 
to  Babylon  to  swell  the  census  of  the  Capital ;  Judea  and 
Jerusalem  were  obliterated  ;  old  Tyre  was  destroyed  after  a 
stubborn  siege  of  thirteen  years  ;  its  vast  ruins  testifying  to 
its  ancient  grandeur,  and  furnishing  Alexander  the  Great, 
materials  to  assault  successfully  the  new  city,  which  perpet- 
uated the  name  and  fame  of  the  old.  The  only  rival  for  the 
world's  dominion  was  Egypt.  And  Nebuchadnezzar,  after 
defeating  Pharoah  Necho  in  Syria,  marched  into  Egypt,  rava- 
ged its  fertile  plains,  and  returned  to  Babylon,  laden  Avith 
the  spoils  of  nations,  the  acknowledged  master. of  the  civilized 
world. 

In  the  intervals  of  leisure  after  his  wars  he  devoted  himself 
to  the  advancement  of  his  capitol.  Babylon  was  an  ancient 
city,  perhaps  the  ancient  Babel.  It  was  the  royal  residence  of 
Belus,  and  of  Semiramis,  the  latter  of  whom  bestowed  so  much 
labor  upon  it  that  she  is  sometimes  termed  its  founder.  But 
when  Nebuchadnezzar  long  after  became  the  monarch  of  the 
world,  he  re-built  the  city,  constructed  those  walls  which  are 
counted  among  the  wonders  of  human  skill ;  created  the 
hanging  gardens,  which  excited  the  wonders  of  our  child- 


hood,  and  erected  the  royal  palace,  which  still  rises  like  a 
conical  mound  from  the  desolate  plain  of  Chaldea.  Those 
famous  walls,  which  Herodotus  and  Alexander's  ofliccrs  meas- 
ured and  described,  were  350  feet  high  and  87  wide,  with  a 
spacious  chariot  road  around  the  summit.  A  hundred  gates  of 
brass  opened  upon  stroetp  150  feet  wide,  running  through  the 
city  from  East  to  Wc.->t  and  from  North  to  Soutli.  The  city 
was  an  exact  square,  each  side  fifteen  miles  long,  and,  there- 
fore, sixty  in  circumference,  intersected  by  the  Euphrates, 
and  connected  by  noble  bridges.  The  equally  famous  gar- 
dens were  built  in  successive  terraces  up  to  the  city  walls. 
They  rested  upon  mr'^'^ivo  arches,  and  were  covered  with  soil 
to  a  sutlicient  depth  to  enable  forest  trees  to  find  root.  Some 
terraces  were  shaded  with  foilage,  some  smiled  with  flowers, 
some  waved  Avith  grain,  some  were  covered  with  rocky 
grottos  and  bubbling  fountains. 

The  beauty  and  magnificence  of  this  unrivalled  city,  as 
described  by  Greek  historians,  are  attested  by  Scripture 
phrases.  "Babylon  the  Great" — ''the  praise  of  the  wholo 
earth" — "the  beauty  of  the  Chaldees  excellency" — "the 
golden  city" — "  the  glory  of  kingdoms  " — these  are  prophetic 
declarations  of  her  greatness.  And,  in  allusion  to  her  walls, 
Jeremiah,  while  predicting  tbeir  overthrow,  implies  their  sur 
periority  to  the  destructive  power  of  ordinary  agencies. 
"The  very  wall  of  Babylon  shall  fall" — though  men  thought 
it  as  indestructible  as  the  Pyramids  of  Egypt  are  now  con- 
sidered. "  The  broad  waVo  ui  Babylon  shall  be  utterly  broken," 
— though  seven  times  thicker  than  our  strongest  fortifica- 
tions. And  in  allusion  to  their  height,  he  says  :  "  Though 
Babylon  mount  up  to  heaven,  and  though  she  should  fortify 
the  height  of  her  strength,  from  me  shall  spoilers  come  unto 
her,  saith  the  Lord." 

These  wonders  were  the  creation  of  Nebuchadnezzar's 
architectural  skill.  That  he  Avas  truly  the  builder  of  Baby- 
lon is  confirmed  by  Col.  Layard's  recent  researches  in  Nine- 
vah  and  Babylonia.  In  one  of  the  mounds  which  he  explored, 
he  came  upon  "  a  solid  piece  of  masonry,"  built  of  the  large 
Babylonian  brick,  "with  traces  of  piers  and  buttresses  project* 


ing  from  the  heap  of  ruins."  "  Ujpon  nearly  every  brick  are 
clearly  and  deeply  stamped  the  name  and  titles  of  NehucJiadnezzar, 
and  tlie  inscribed  face  is  always  placed  downwards."  Such 
was  the  amount  of  bricks  contained  in  those  mounds,  that 
successive  cities  have  been  built  along  the  Euphrates  from 
these  materials,  as  far  as  Bagdad.  "  There  is  scarcely  a  house 
in  Hillah  which  is  not  almost  entirely  built  Avith  them  ;  and 
as  the  traveler  passes  through  the  streets,  he  sees  in  the 
walls  of  every  hovel,  a  record  of  the  glory  and  power  of  Ne- 
buchadnezzar."    Page  412. 

As  this  mighty  monarch  walked  upon  the  terraced  roof  of 
his  palace  in  the  centre  of  this  gorgeous  city,  he  saw  enough 
to  SAvell  his  heart  with  pride.  As  he  looked  around  the  vast 
area,  enclosed  within  the  walls,  and  counted  the  temples  and 
palaces,  and  observatories  he  had  built,  he  would  regard  him- 
self as  a  model  monarch,  the  envy  of  his  equals,  the  benefac- 
tor of  mankind.  When  he  looked  down  upon  the  rectangular 
streets,  alive  with  population  and  busy  with  traffic,  these 
creations  of  his  power  and  wealth  would  fill  his  soul  with  sat- 
isfaction. As  he  surveyed  the  different  races  of  subjugated 
peoples  who  inhabited  his  city,  and  marked  the  captives  with 
turbaned  heads  and  "  harps  in  their  hands,"  who  frequented 
the  "  willows  "  upon  the  "  river  banks,"  he  smiled  contempt- 
uously at  their  strange  conceit,  that  their  God  was  irresistible. 
Had  not  the  power  of  Israel's  God  quailed  before  Nebuchad- 
nezzar? Which  of  the  gods  of  the  nations  had  withstood  his 
arms  ?  What  mortal  monarch  could  resist  his  will  ?  What 
leagured  array  could  ever  scale  those  walls?  As  these 
thoughts  engrossed  his  mind,  he  gave  utterance  to  them  in 
the  language  of  the  text :  "  And  the  King  spake  and  said,  *  Is 
not  this  great  Babylon  that  I  have  built  for  the  house  of  the 
kingdom,  by  the  might  of  my  power,  and  for  the  honor  of  my 
majesty  ?' " 

There  was  truth  in  the  boast ;  but  God  hates  arrogance, 
and  punished  the  boaster.  While  the  word  was  in  the  king's 
mouth,  there  fell  a  voice  from  Heaven,  "  0  king  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, to  thee  it  is  spoken.  The  kingdom  is  departed  from 
thee :  and  they  shall  drive  thee  from  men,  and  thy  dweUing 


8 

shall  be  with  the  beasts  of  the  field.  They  shall  make  thee 
to  eat  grass  as  oxen,  and  seven  times  shall  pass  over  thee> 
until  thou  know  that  the  Most  Hiu^h  ruleth  in  the  kingdom  of 
men,  and  giveth  it  to  whomsoever  he  will.'' 

"  The  same  hour  was  the  thing  fulfilled  upon  Nebuchad- 
nezzar." 

A  sudden  insanity  fell  upon  him.  Ho  fancied  himself  a 
beast.  He  herded  with  the  oxen.  He  imitated  their  habits; 
he  slept  in  the  fields  until  a  hairy  covering  protected  his 
naked  body,  and  his  nails  hardened  into  claws.  For  seven 
long  years  the  brutalized  monarch  became  a  loathsome  spec- 
tacle to  his  subjects,  and  a  warning  to  all  men  of  the  real 
degradation  of  pride.  At  the  end  of  that  period  "  my  under- 
standing returned  unto  me,  and  I  blessed  the  Most  High,  and 
I  praised  and  honored  Him  tliat  liveth  forever,  whose  domin- 
ion is  an  everlasting  dominioQ,  and  His  kingdom  from  gene- 
ration to  generation."  With  the  restoration  of  his  reason, 
his  kingdom  was  restored  unto  him,  and  he  lived  and  died  a 
wiser  and  a  better  man. 

My  brethren,  can  you  see  any  repetition  in  modern  history 
of  the  pride  and  the  fall  of  Nebuchadnezzar?  You  may  re- 
ply .that  in  Napoleon's  fate  we  read  the  same  lesson.  True. 
But  I  come  nearer  home.  It  does  not  require  the  prophetic 
w^isdom  of  Daniel  to  interpret  the  dreams  which  have  floated 
through  the  minds  of  the  American  people  for  a  generation 
back.  As  we  reposed  upon  our  national  bulwarks,  and  looked 
down  upon  our  unexampled  prosperity  ;  marked  our  empire, 
washed  by  the  two  great  oceans  of  earth,  studded  with  noble 
cities  and  fertile  plains,  and  majestic  rivers  ;  independent  of 
the  world,  and  secure  from  war,  from  invasion  and  from  fam- 
ine ;  when  we  counted  our  bravo  and  enterprising  popXilation, 
swelling  from  three  millions  to  thirty  in  our  brief  existence  : 
when  we  saw  the  ocean  whitened  with  our  commerce,  the 
American  flag  flying  in  every  sea,  and  honored  alike  in  all, 
we  surveyed  our  achievements  in  the  very  spirit  of  Nebuchad- 
nezzar, and  self  complacently  asked,  "  Is  not  this  great  Baby- 
lon, that  I  bave  built  by  the  might  of  my  power,  and  for  the 
glory  of  my  majesty  ?"    Is  not  this  Confederacy  of  States  des- 


tined  to  endure,  to  eclipse  the  splendors  of  Europe  and  the' 
grandeur  of  imperial  Rome  ?  Have  we  not  partaken  of  Ne- 
buchadnezzar's sin  ?  Has  not  our  national  pride  and  vanity 
overflowed  the  bounds  of  reason  and  religion  ?  Have  we  not 
grown  as  self -confident  as  the  Babylonian  monarch  ?  Our 
"  walls "  we  fancied  too  strong  to  be  thrown  down.  Our 
house  we  thought  "  built  upon  a  rock."  The  wisdom  and 
st^ility  of  our  federative  system  we  were  never  tired  of  pro- 
claiming. We  lauded  our  republican  institutions  as  the 
model  of  social  organization,  the  panacea  for  all  political  ills, 
and  the  hope  of  mankind  ;  and  to  all  discontented  peoples 
we  held  up  our  Union  as  a  beacon  light,  saying  unto  them, 
"  Look  ye  unto  me  and  be  ye  saved,  all  the  ends  of  the  earth." 
From  this  overweening  confidence  in  our  destiny,  we 
have  groivn  arrogant  in  our  bearing.  The  language  of  con- 
tempt has  been  our  language  towards  the  most  ancient  mon- 
archies. We  have  characterized  them  as  "  the  crumbling 
despotisms  of  the  old  world,"  and  congratulated  ourselves  on 
the  foresight  which  had  provided  such  a  house  for  our  home, 
as  would  throw  all  our  neighbors  into  the  shade,  and  shelter 
our  children  in  all  time  to  come.  "  In  my  prosperity  I  said  I 
shall  never  be  moved." 

But  God  hates  pride  and  arrogance,  whether  in  a  crowned 
monarch  or  a  republican  people;  and  our  pride  falls  as  sud- 
denly as  Nebuchadnezzar's.  There  has  been  no  voice  from 
heaven  proclaiming  our  fate,  but  the  word  of  God  and  the 
finger  of  God  are  equally  manifest.  Suddenly,  unaccounta- 
bly, our  national  grandeur  melts  away  like  wax  before  the 
fire,  our  political  union  dissolves  like  the  shifting  scenes  of  a 
diorama,  our  country  crumbles  into  fragments,  in  time  of  pro- 
found peace,  without  any  hostile  touch,  without  external  pres- 
sure, without  internal  violence — I  see  nothing  like  it  in  his- 
tory. Our  vanity  bursts  like  a  bubble,  our  ship  of  State  goes 
to  pieces  in  a  calm  day,  on  a  smooth  sea,  without  any  acknowl- 
edged cause.  A  mysterious  power  afiects  it ;  every  nail  is 
loosened,  every  plank  starts,  and  the  crew  must  save  them- 
selves upon  rafts  until  another  vessel  be  constructed. 


10 

What  is  the  cause  ?  We  say.  the  Abolitianists.  Tliey  say^ 
the  Secessionists.  But  nothing  was  further  from  their  inten- 
tions than  a  disruption  of  the  Union — nor  did  any  Soutl)crn 
State  seriously  contemplate  such  an  event  six  months  since. 

It  is  manifestly  God's  decree  against  our  national  pride. 

We  have  been  I'idims  of  prosperity .  This  is  the  fountain 
whence  our  overflowing  vanity  is  supplied.  Thus  mankind 
have  ever  abused  God's  gifts.  "  Pride,  fullness  of  bread,  and 
abundance  of  idleness,"  were  the  provoking  causes  of  Sodom's 
destruction.  The  carnal  security  of  Moab  was  declared  by 
the  Prophets  to  provoke  his  fall.  "  Moab  is  at  ease  from  his 
youth,  he  is  settled  on  his  lees,"  and  prosperity  begot  pride, 
and  pride  was  his  ruin. 

Nebuchadnezzar  was  the  victim  of  prosperity.  He  was 
fortune's  favorite.  In  the  field,  in  the  cabinet,  in  arts,  in 
wealth,  he  had  no  rival.  But  great  prosperity  yielded  its 
usual  fruit.  "  His  heart  was  lifted  up,  and  his  mind  hardened 
in  pride,"  and  the  usual  result  followed.  God  "deposed  him 
from  his  kingly  throne,  and  they  took  his  glory  from  him." 
This  is  the  lesson  of  history  for  six  thousand  years.  Nations 
and  individuals  alike  illustrate  its  truth,  for  "  Pride  goetli  be- 
yond destruction,  and  a  haughty  spirit  before  a  fall."  The 
United  States  of  America  is  the  last  recorded  example  of  a 
people  spoiled  by  prosperity,  and  overthrown  by  pride. 

Here  are  the  true  causes  of  our  national  dissolution,  and 
these  the  rocks  of  which  wo  must  beware  in  our  future 
history. 

My  brethren,  I  hpve  set  these  things  before  you,  not  to 
triumph  in  the  failure  of  our  Confederation — for  a  feeling  of 
sorrow  will  ever  touch  a  generous  mind  as  it  surveys  the 
ruins  of  a  noble  edifice — nor  to  seek  occasion  for  boasting  at 
our  neighbor's  expense,  (for  we  hare  done  our  full  f^liare  in 
inflating  the  national  vanity) f  but  to  draw  lessons  of  wisdom 
for  the  future. 

We  are  noAv  endeavoring  to  Reconstruct  a  government  for 
a  portion  of  this  Confederacy.  I  pray  God  that  we  may  be 
preserved  from  past  errors.  A  government  in  our  land  is 
only  the  reflections  of  the  public  eentimout,  and  an  embodi- 


11 

ment  of  the  national  character.  Hence  every  man^a  opinion 
and  every  man's  character  enters  into  the  national  structure, 
and  helps  to  mould  its  form,  and  to  influence  its  destiny. 
■  Every  citizen  contributes  his  mite  towards  the  character  of 
the  rising  edifice. 

Beware  then  of  an  unsound  foiindnilon.  Neither  pride  nor 
policy  can  uphold  a  nation's  happiness.  Too  much  confidence 
in  ourselves,  in  our  own  courage,  and  ^visdom,  and  destiny, 
while  it  gives  a  temporary  strength,  really  weakens  the  body 
politic.  In  times  of  trouble  it  will  prove  worthless  as  a  brittle 
sword,  for  it  will  always  find,  or  provoke,  a  pride  equal  to  its 
own,  and  it  will  always  array  God's  power  in  opposition. 
National  pride,  personal  pride,  pride  of  power,  of  wealth,  of 
birth,  God  hates.  Let  us  not  spoil  the  new  Confederacy  by 
an  infusion  of  national  pride.  It  Avill  prove  rotten  mortar 
between  the  joints  of  the  edifice,  and  stone  after  stone  will 
drop  out,  until  the  whole  fabric  comes  to  the  ground. 

Let  us  not  rest  our  hopes  upon  idrnfll^  of  institutions  in  the 
Southern  States.  Slavery  is  itself  no  bond  of  Union.  It  has 
become  so  with  us,  simply  as  the  result  of  outward  pressure. 
The  Chaldean  monarchy,  the  Roman  empire,  the  Greek  re- 
publics, the  South  American  States,  \vere  all  slaveholding 
countries.  But  they  have  all  fallen  to  pieces  notwithstand- 
ing. Of  itself,  it  is  a  mere  rope  of  sand,  with  no  more  power, 
politically,  than  any  other  recognized  relationship. 

Let  us  not  repose  on  our  agricultural  staples.  Cotton  is 
the  king  whom  commerce  now  worships.  But  its  reign  may 
pass  away  like  other  human  sceptres.  It  is  not  now  more 
firmly  estabhshed  in  its  supremacy  than  Nebuchadnezzar 
was  in  his.  Suddenly  as  the  ancient  monarch  was  hurled 
from  his  seat  the  dominant  staple  may  be  from  its  commer- 
cial throne.  Sixty  or  seventy  years  since,  indigo  was  the 
produce  of  Southern  fields,  and  Cotton  scarcely  known. 
Seventy  years  hence  some  other  culture  may  supplant  this, 
as  it  has  supplanted  the  former  production,  and  more  remu- 
nerative labor  may  fill  its  place.  These  are  the  two  human 
props  upon  which  the  Southern  mind  is  now  temped  to  lean, 
instead  of  upon  the  eternal  God.     They  are  the  arches  upon 


12 

which  pride  is  resting  our  political  house.  But  they  will 
sink  beneath  the  superincumbent  weight,  like  the  arches  in  the 
walls  of  Babylon. 

Beware  also  of  a  greediness  after  territorial  ajcquisitiwi.  This 
has  become  a  ruling  passion  in  the  American  mind.  It  is  the 
sin  of  strong  nations.  Acquisitiveness  makes  the  individual 
grasp  propery ;  it  makes  the  nation  grasp  territory.  It 
gratifies  at  once  ambition  and  covetousness.  But  the  lust 
of  aggrandisement  debauches  a  people.  If  God's  Providence 
enlarges  a  man's  property,  or  a  nation's  territory,  He  will 
sanction  the  use,  so  that  it  shall  not  prove  a  snare.  But  an 
acquisition  eagerly  coveted,  and  unlawfully  grasped,  lowers 
the  character,  and  begets  a  dishonest  spirit.  All  empires 
perish  from  too  much  expansion. 

What,  then,  is  our  hope  for  the  future?  "The  Lord  who 
ruleth  in  the  earth,  and  c/iveth  the  kingdom  to  ivhomsoever  He 
mill."  Let  us  rest  our  hopes  on  'H.im,  practically  and  theoreti- 
cally. There  should  be  a  more  formal  acknowledgment  of 
God  than  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States  contains.* 
Our  Christian  character,  our  faith  in  the  Gospel  and  the 
Christian  Sabbath,  should  be  openly  afTirmed.  But  more 
than  a  formal,  there  should  be  a  general,  hearty  recognition 
of  God's  word  and  power  and  blessing.  Our  laws  should  rest 
upon  the  eternal  principles  of  right  and  wrong  which  the 
Scriptures  reveal — our  national,  social  life,  be  regulated  by 
the  rules  of  truth  and  justice,  which  God  has  therein  given 
us. 

The  supreme  power  of  Jehovah  should  be  the  recognized 
basis  of  our  national  existence.     "  Ilath  not  the  potter  power 


Note. — The  CoDstitution  of  the  Confederate  States  hu 
been  jtuWishod  finco  the  delivery  of  the  sermon;  ftiul  tlio  writer  is  gri'tiflttl  nt  the  ronCnnnlion 
of  his  vi<!ws  by  that  docuinont.  There  is  an  open  iivownl  of  the  G'  1  of  iiiitiotis.  nmi  of  our 
dependence  upon  His  "favor  and  (guidance."  The  Christian  Salibath  is  also  indirectly  recog- 
nised, as  in  thedd  Constitution.  This  may  8C(Un  a  small  pnin,  but  we  thankfully  accept  it. 
It  is  the  Jtcoffnitinn  of  a  true  prii>ci}>Ic,  inserted  into  the  foundntion  of  our  Confederacy.  Wo 
have  in  our  national  history  proved  the  danger  of  incorporutiu(;a  political  audreli;;iou8  fallacy 
(as  I  regard  it)  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  The  doctrine  of  universal  equality  has 
been  the  radical  evil  of  the  United  States  Uovcrnment.  May  the  introduction  of  a  new  reli- 
gious priucii>lu  iu  oui  ConsUtutiou,  bo  as  potent  fur  good,  as  thu  above  error  has  beea  for  evil. 


over  the  clay,  to  mould  it  as  he  lists,"  is  the  comparison  by 
which  the  Lord  asserts  his  sovereign  power  over  the  nations. 
The  heathen  reject  the  claim  and  set  up  a  rival  God.  '^  Dex- 
tra  mea  Dens — "  my  right  hand  is  God,  saith  the  atheist ;  and 
many  a  monarch  since  Nebuchadnezzar  hath  foolishly  re- 
peated the  boast.  Let  us  believe  "  that  the  Lord  he  is 
God,"  "his  arm  our  defence,"  his  power  "our  shield  and 
buckler  !"  Let  us  seek  and  obtain  his  "  blessing,"  for  it  maketh 
rich  in  enduring  benefits.  His  blessing  upon  our  rulers,  upon 
our  people  and  our  land,  shall  give  security  and  happiness  in 
future  years.  Secure  his  blessing  "  hy  righfcovsness.^'  Let 
every  man  contribute  his  aid.  ".Acknowledge  the  Lord  in  all 
thy  ways."  Let  "  his  name  be  hallowed,"  and  oaths  be  sacred 
in  our  land.  Let  our  rulers  and  people  honor  his  t^abbath, 
our  railroads  and  steamboats  cease  their  trafiSc  on  the  Lord's 
day.  Let  our  Churches  be  filled  with  devout  worshippers, 
and  the  enticements  to  sin  be  closed  by  law  upon  that  day. 
Let  men  deal  truly  and  justly  with  their  fellows,  remember- 
ing that  God  will  reward  every  good  and  every  evil  deed. 

Let  us,  as  a  Christian  nation,  glorify  the  Lord  Jesus.  Let  our 
heartfelt  trust  be  ever  in  the  Lord.  It  was  the  sin  of  his  heart 
which  overthrew  Nebuchadnezzar.  It  is  the  pride  of  our 
heart  which  provokes  the  Lord. 

"  Let  not  the  wise  man  glory  in  his  wisdom,  neither  let  the 
mighty  man  glory  in  his  n)ight,  let  not  the  rivJt  man  glory  in 
his  riche&,  but  let  him  that  glorieth  gloiy  in  this,  that  he 
understandeth  and  knoweth  me,  that  I  am  the  Lord,  who  ex- 
ercises loving  kindness,  judgment  and  righteousness  in  the 
earth,  for  in  these  things  I  delight,  saith  the  Lord."  Thus 
we  shall  know  that  "  there  is  a  God  that  ruleth  in  the 
earth  ;"  "  that  He  exalteth  the  people  according  to  his  will ;" 
that  "  his  dominion  is  an  everlasting  dominion"  and  " his  king- 
dom from  generation  to  generation."  Thus  should  "  we  praise 
Thee,  0  God,  and  God,  even  our  God,  shall  give  us  his 
blessing."  With  that  all  pervading  blessing  to  crown  our 
work  ;  with  our  acknowledged  advantages,  agricultural,  com- 
mercial, social  and  religious,  with  a  united  people,  walking  in 
the  fear  of  God,  and  the  faith  of  the  Gospel,  we  may  expect 


14 

to  retain  the  fiwor  of  heaven.  "  His  blessing  maketh  rich, 
an<l  addeth  no  sorrow  nith  it."'  May  it  be  to  us  for  walls  and 
bulwarks,  so  our  house  shall  siaiid  !  It  will  shelter  the  Ark  of 
God,  secure  the  welfare  of  our  children,  Tind  reflect  "  the 
honor  of  his  majesty  ;"  and  "  the  Lord  of  hosts  shall  be  for  a 
crown  of  glory  and  a  diadem  of  beauty  to  the  residue  of  his 
people  I" 


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